Noldorin Elf, second son of Fingolfin and in Middle-earth King of Gondolin and High King of the Noldor. In Eldamar Turgon was friendly with the sons of Finarfin and opposed Fëanor's plan to pursue Morgoth after the theft of the Silmarils, but at last he became one of the Exiles. His wife Elenwë was lost crossing the Helcaraxë, but Turgon and his daughter Idril came to Nevrast, where he built Vinyamar and gathered to him one-third of the Noldor of Fingolfin and a large number of Sindar.
In 51 and 52, Turgon was instructed by Ulmo to prepare a secret kingdom and was shown the hidden valley of Tumladen. After 52 years of secret labor, Turgon led his people into Gondolin, where he ruled for over 500 years, largely ignoring the events of the Wars of Beleriand.
Aside from the misadventure of Eöl, the splendor of Turgon's reign in Gondolin was undisturbed until Dagor Bragollach, when Turgon was brought his father's body by Thorondor. Two years later Thorondor brought him Húrin and Huor, whom he fostered for a year and then allowed to return to Dor-lómin. At this time Turgon foresaw the doom of the Noldor, and he secretly sent mariners to try to obtain the mercy of the Valar. None of these missions was successful and only one of the mariners, Voronwë, survived the Shadowy Seas.
For some reason Turgon joined the Union of Maedhros and fought alongside Fingon in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, but the sacrifice of Húrin, Huor, and the Third House of the Edain enabled him to retreat without revealing the location of Gondolin. When Tuor came to Gondolin in 496, Turgon welcomed him, but in his pride he refused to follow the advice of Ulmo to flee to the Havens of Sirion. But now the full malice of Morgoth was directed toward Turgon, last of the House of Finwë to control a realm in Middle-earth. At last, aided by the despair of Húrin and the treachery of Maeglin, Morgoth discovered the location of Gondolin, and Turgon was slain defending his Tower.
A wise and cautious ruler, aware of the Doom of the Noldor and the ultimate futility of direct opposition to Melkor, Turgon nonetheless fell into the pride of his kindred. But from his caution, and the friendship of Ulmo, came the extra years of survival that allowed the union of Tuor and Idril and the birth of Eärendil, Turgon's grandson, who at length obtained the aid by which Morgoth was defeated.
Turgon wrought Glingal and Belthil, the splendid images of the Two Trees. His sword was Glamdring, which was made for him.

Return